Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-02-04
The Doctors Wooing.

prettiest, most provoking daughter OF
Eve that ever existed-at least thought
so-though, perhaps, l was not an i'm
partial Judge, for l must confess | was
deeply in love with her, and, in fact,
doubt if could remember time when
| was not in love with her. 1t certainly
was not when youngster of twelve
took her under my especial charge at
school, feeling prouder of her than |
would now of mine of gold; nor when
Il tall, awkward boy Of sixteen, first
ventured to ask for her company home
from singing school; or still later,
when, after four years absence from my
native town. returned and put out my
sign-Willard II. Campbell, NJ. Din
the little office where DR.. Banks name
had hung from time immemorial.
Culverton was remarkably healthy
place, or else the good people were fear
full of trusting their lives in the hands
of such young scapegrace as they had
known me to be in my younger days
at least, 1 knew my horse and buggy
were more frequently employed in car
rying Kittie Markham to ride than they
were in professional business, and it ia
certain more of my time was spent in
Deacon Markham's parlor than in either
the study or practice of medicine. Some
of the neighbors slyly remarked that
must have very sick patient there to
require such frequent visits. One thing
is certain if | had no patient there, all
the patience ever had was required
there at times, for of all the tantalizing
little witches that ever fascinated and
provoked poor fellow out Of his senes,
Kittie Markham was the worst.
There is an old adage about the wild
ness of minister's sons and deacon's
daughters, and l was about to say be-
lieved it was trne, but l neither knew
nor care about ministers sons, this one
deac6n's daughter was enough for me;
for a wilder, saucier romp never pro-
vOked the scandal of good Old New
England matrons. And here was l.
Willard Ii. Campbell, NJ. D.-standing
six feet two in my stocking feet, big
enough to have known better, that is
sure-led about by that little elf, CON-
ing and going at her every beck and
call, like the great simpleton that was,
for here | had been playing "yours de-
votedly" for six months, and, so far as
| could see, was no nearer winning her
than at first. Open-hearted and candid
as she was in all her subjects, let me but
speak of love or marriage, and l might
as we'll talk to a stone wall or hitching
post for all the sense would get from
her. No matter how cautiously | might
approach the subject she was always
ready with some Off hard answer, as far
from what / desired as the tropics from
the poles; until / was almost in de.
spair, but man-fashion, more eager after
every failure.
Gall is fair in love and war"-at
least thought go, and resolved to try
the result Of strategy on my willful lit
tie lady love. One fine morning as we
were about starting on a horseback ride,
and / was assisting Miss Kittie into the
saddle, her horse became very restive-
of course the jagged bits of iron had
cautiously inserted beneath the saddle
had nothing to do with IL! BY the time
she was fairly seated he was rearing and
prancing at an alarming rate; finally
throwing her from his back /; Of course
caught her before she touched the
ground. No sooner was she in safety
than with deep groan staggered back
against the fence, my right arm hanging
helplessly by my side.
Kitty sprang forward, her usually
merry face white with fright.
go, WILL" she said, anxiously, "thai
terrible horse has broken your arm
what will you dop I'm so sorry"
How like a rascal felt at sight Of
her distress; but was not going to Civ,
it up then, SO answered with another
terrible groan-"It is nothing, deal
Kittie, l would suffer thousand times
more to feel had saved your precious
life."
"Poor, poor Will! what can do fol
YOU 90 she said, in such touching accents
that half repented.
"The end justifss the MEANS"
thought. The end accomplished GER
tainIy did. My answer was in voic'
low and faint, as il were dying.
"Only tell me that you love me, Kitti
darling; it would soothe my pain NOR
than anything else in the world" An,
then like great simpleton put tina
broken right arm around her and neve
discovered my mists.e until she sprani
suddenly away from me.
"wouldn't q little wormwood an
rum do as well, DR.. Campbell?" sh
said, archly. 81 think the injury mus
have been astrain-on your conscience.
Wouldn't have sold myself for six